Casino Town was built by the God Learners: they knew the house odds (i.e. in the end, they always came out ahead), and lured gods and heroes there, tempting them with the possibility of winning new powers and knowledge - but, more often than not, ending up losing whatever they had. (Read the Wyrms Footprints article on the God Learners, p.25 -- this is another special form of their Riddling Contest, in which the outcome is usually in favour of the mortals).
Belintar the Pharaoh broke the bank at Casino Town, thus gaining sovereignty over the Left Arm Islands. Those "tribute payments" -- they're the income on his outstanding debt. If they can ever pay him off, they're free.
Ask Peter Metcalfe about the One-Armed Bandits.
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